The DAP secretary-general said allowing MCA members to join in on such events not only proved the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party’s links to Perkasa but lent the group legitimacy despite its alleged “racist and extremist” character.

“How can Chua and MCA claim to defend the interests of Malaysian Chinese when their members and supporters can go to Perkasa functions that breed hate against non-Malays in the country and want to reduce them to second-class or third-class citizens?

“If MCA and Chua have any dignity or honour, no MCA member should be allowed to attend Perkasa events and thereby give credibility to this racist and extremist organization,” he said in a statement.

Lim also said he was “shocked” that Dr Chua had defended Perkasa’s use of white ang pows at the group’s Chinese New Year open house last weekend, a faux pas condemned by the Chinese community.

Money to help with funeral costs is usually placed in white packets by the Chinese and is known as “pak kum” in Cantonese.

Lim pointed out that former Sri Desa MCA chief Dr Collin Tiew, who helped ferry seniors to the function, had told Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali the packets had to be red “but Ibrahim did not bother”.

“Clearly, Perkasa and Chua’s claim that they did not distribute the white ang pows on purpose, is not believable that serves to deceive not only oneself but others too...

“Perkasa was deliberately trampling rudely over the sensitivities of the Chinese community by giving white ang pows,” the Bagan MP said.

Dr Tiew has since resigned his post and apologised to the Chinese community in the ensuing uproar.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, also hit out at Datuk Seri Najib Razak for downplaying Perkasa’s gaffe, suggesting that the prime minister was reluctant to condemn the group as Barisan Nasional (BN) had also used white ang pows at a function in Seri Setia.

“It is not too late for Datuk Seri Najib to salvage his 1 Malaysia slogan, which has been proven to be empty and meaningless when Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pronounced that he is Malay first, and Malaysian second.

“Datuk Seri Najib should take the bold step to condemn Perkasa for their insensitive act and cut all ties with this racist and extremist organization,” he said.

Cut ties with Perkasa, Guan Eng dares MCA

By Yow Hong Chieh

February 05, 2012

Ibrahim Ali hands out white packets to the elderly during the Perkasa CNY open house last week. - file pic